Community Comment: ‘Pampered Commuter’ For GEORGE

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Mount Daniel Educator Named Outstanding Teacher

Ms. Amy Harding-Wright is this year’s Falls Church recipient of the Washington Post’s Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award.

“We are extremely fortunate to have someone with Amy’s credentials teaching our youngest students,” Falls Church City Public Schools Superintendent Lois Berlin said.  “Preschool is often a child’s first experience with formal education, and as an early childhood specialist, Amy helps provide a firm foundation for students enrolled in our special needs preschool program.”

The annual award is presented by the Washington Post to one teacher from each of the 19 metro area public school divisions and one private school.  The award’s namesake, Agnes Meyer, was a staunch supporter and defender of public education and the wife of Eugene Meyer, who purchased the Washington Post in 1933.  The goals of the award are to recognize excellence in teaching and to encourage creative and quality instruction.

Parents and colleagues submitted letters of support for Harding-Wright’s nomination for the award.

“When entering Mrs. Harding-Wright’s classroom, I am always struck by the nurturing and caring atmosphere that she provides for the very young children in her care,” Principal Kathy Halayko wrote.  Her smile is warm and welcoming as she shares her sincere joy, excitement and love for learning in her preschool classroom.”

“Through grouping, varying activities and creatively engaging students, she finds alternative routes to meet each child’s needs,” teacher Danielle Clark wrote, and one child’s parents wrote, “Her ability to nurture and coax (our son) into learning and interacting constructively with his teachers and peers had a profoundly positive effect on his life at a very difficult and critical time in his development.”

A 16 year veteran educator from Mount Daniel Elementary, Ms. Harding-Wright is credited with starting the school’s special education preschool program in 2000.  Her tenure began in 1996 as the school division’s inclusion teacher.  She also has served as the child find coordinator, identifying preschool students with special needs; and as an early childhood specialist.

Ms. Harding-Wright earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York and a master’s in education from The College of St. Rose in Albany.  She also has completed postgraduate coursework in special education and school administration and supervision at the University of Virginia.

Ms. Harding-Wright was among five City public school teachers nominated for the award.  All will be recognized by the school board at a reception later this spring.  Harding-Wright also will be recognized with other winners from the region at a Washington Post reception in May.

City Manager Discusses Taxes, Schools, GEORGE Bus in Budget Presentation

 

Here are notes from City Manager Wyatt Shields’ budget presentation yesterday at the Falls Church Community Center. 

Worsening Budget Situation  -  In November, City Chief Financial Officer John Tuohy estimated the budget gap for FY 2010 at $3.9 million.  Now the gap is projected at $4.3 million, prior to action by Shields and the City Council to balance the budget as required by Virginia law.

Biggest Revenue Drop: Sales Taxes  -  Sales taxes are anticipated to fall by $628,000, the greatest drop of any revenue category in absolute dollars.  Interfund transfers (e.g., money from water sales, state money for schools) are next, which anticipated to be $590,000 lower.  Building permits are expected to be $521,000 lower.  Property taxes, the City’s greatest source of revenue, are expected to drop by a relatively low $148,000.  All revenue categories combined, including some not mentioned here, are expected to drop by $1.7 million.

Increased Pension Costs  –  Due to the decline in the value of stocks and bonds, City employee pension funds are worth less.  The City will have to contribute $200,000 more per year to bring them back to full funding levels.

Budget Cuts  -  Schools have reduced their FY 2010 budget by $492,000.  Environmental services are to be cut $415,000, and Administration by $369,000.  Cuts also are on tap in other areas, including the reduction of seven positions, and the discontinuation of the GEORGE bus service.

Tax Increase  –  Mr. Shields proposes an increase in the City real estate tax from the current $1.03 per $100 of assessed value to $1.07.

FY 2011 and Beyond  –  The FY 2011 budget gap is projected to be $2.1 million, assuming a real estate tax of $1.13 per $100 of assessed value.  No numbers are available for FY 2012 or later.  On Monday March 30, Mr. Shields will discuss the budget situation for FY 2012-2016 with the City Council and Planning Commission.

Big Expenditures Coming  -  The city manager’s FY 2010 and 2011 budget numbers do not include major capital expenditures expected for Schools and City Hall.  For FY 2012-2013, school construction costs of $30.8 million are included. For City Hall, $14 million.

Are School Costs Underestimated?  –  School officials recently estimated the cost of construction of a new facility at around $70 million.  Mr. Shields frankly said the $30 million figure is used because a higher number would cause the City’s debt service to exceed the limit of 12% of revenues.

Why Does City Hall Need Renovation?  -  City officials say the court facilities must be upgraded to maintain safety and that police facilities are overcrowded, “with staff stacked on top of each other.” Discussion occurred around whether Falls Church should contract with Arlington for all court services, given that it hosts some such services now.

Comments and Questions From the Audience:

A parent of a kindergarten student raised concerns that new students from mixed use developments are adding to school construction costs, given that schools such as Mt. Daniel already are overcrowded. Another attendee said such developments are projected to add 107 students.

Lengthy discussion over discontinuing GEORGE bus service, with a variety of options suggested short of ending service.

A question regarding the implications of the affordable housing project, City Center South Apartments, prompted Councilman Dave Snyder to note that in addition to an initial $2 million city contribution, the Falls Church had agreed to a tax exemption arrangement that would cost at least $750,000 per year.  Mr. Shields confirmed that ballpark figure.  Vice Mayor Hal Lippman noted that there is more to the story and offered to talk to anyone interested.

Mr. Shields closed the meeting reminding attendees there would be a second such session on Saturday, April 4, and that new information would be presented, likely with longer term projections included.

The Council will act on final adoption of the FY 2010 budget on April 27.  Links to City budget documents appear in the article below.

City to Explain Budget Cuts, Tax Increases Saturday

Facing a projected 2010 budget deficit of $3.9 million as recently as November, Falls Church City Manager Wyatt Shields has proposed a balanced budget mixing a combination of tax increases and service cuts for the coming year.  He will explain the details to residents Saturday morning.     

In November, city Chief Financial Officer John Tuohy presented the Council with a “Gap” memo projecting a shortfall of $3.9 million for 2010, increasing to $17 million by 2013. 

But Shields presented a balanced 2010 budget proposal to the City Council earlier this month, as required, and a 2011 budget gap projection narrowed to $2.1 million from the $7.7 million Tuohy projected in November.   The publicly available version of Shields’ presentation does not explain all details, although some aspects, such as discontinuing the George bus service, have been widely discussed.  The information also does not extend past 2011, so further comparisons with the earlier gap projections are not available. 

Shields’ March numbers are at Slide 18 of

http://www.fallschurchva.gov/Content/Docs/FinancialUpdateWrkS031209.pdf

Tuohy’s November Gap memo is available at http://fallschurchtimes.com/?p=985

Making up $3.9 million strictly by raising the real estate tax would require an increase of 10.7 cents on the existing tax of $1.03 per hundred dollars of assessed value, according to Tuohy’s November memo.  Shields’ 2010 budget proposal anticipates raising the real estate tax to $1.07, with the rest to come from budget cuts.   Shields anticipates a further increase to $1.13 in 2011.   

Shields’ public presentation of the budget will occur Saturday, 10:00-11:30am at the Falls Church Community Center.

“One Dollar – One Person – One City” – Employees Voice Concerns on Cutbacks

Among those most affected by the current fiscal crisis and the proposed budget cuts are the City’s employees.  Many attended last Monday’s Council session where Ms. Tennille Parker of the City of Falls Church Government Employees Advisory Council spoke on their behalf as follows:

We consider public service a priviliege and it’s not to be taken lightly that we have the opportunity to work in a small city where we can have a big impact.  That being said, we know we are not immune to the City’s projected revenue shortfall.

The city manager has proposed a pay freeze for all government employees and the defunding and/or layoffs of seven government positions.  The proposed reductions mean the City will lose the expertise dedicated to affordable housing, emergency preparedness, and neighborhood green initiatives, among others. 

The services targeted for reduction and elimination have value to the community.  In fact, there was no effort to reduce them when the economy was much stronger.  The issue frankly is whether the city afford these services in today’s economic reality.

As you consider budget options, we ask you to keep these three things in mind:

One Dollar   -   One Person   -   One City

One tax dollar pays government AND school employees.  Value them equally in the process.

One person in every City household and every City business derives benefits from City government services.

One City with 350 government employees, dedicated to keeping it a special place. 

Mayor Robin Gardner briefly thanked Ms. Parker for her remarks and the city manager began a presentation.  The delegation of employees then started to leave the chamber, perhaps unsure of how much an impression her appeal for fairness and unity had made on the Council.

At that point Vice Mayor Hal Lippman suddenly spoke up and assured the employees how much he had appreciated their attending the meeting.   Characterizing himself as “a glass that’s being filled”, Mr. Lippman stated he had not come to closure on the difficult fiscal choices the City will have to make. 

The mayor and Councilmen Lawrence Webb and Dan Maller then each in turn concurred with Mr. Lippman’s sentiments.

Snyder Blasts Draft Budget; Council Approves 1st Reading

“I want nothing to do with the proposed budget.  I think it’s dead wrong.” 

With those words Councilman Dave Snyder began a blistering attack on the FY 2010 budget currently under review by the Falls Church City Council. 

Mr. Snyder, a former mayor and the longest serving member of the Council, criticized the proposed budget’s funding of public transportation and public safety, its treatment of City employees, and its approach to long-term planning.

Anticipating a counter-attack, he stated “I will not be forced to rely on information that has been supplied by others (i.e., City staff) in order to make [my] counter-proposals.  I want to bring the budget back to a reasonable balance fiscally and one which is consistent with the values of the community.”

Strong as they were, Mr. Snyder’s views were not shared by his colleagues who voted 6-1 to approve the first reading of the budget.  The second reading or approval will be held on April 27.

Councilman Nader Baroukh, though stating that he had serious misgivings about the budget as presented, voted for approval in the hope that the Council gradually could achieve some consensus.  However, he cautioned that his vote did not mean he approved the operating budget and Capital Improvements Plan as they currently stand.

Councilman Lawrence Webb cautioned the Council against potentially creating a divide in the community by “overly focusing on ‘hot button’ issues” such as the GEORGE bus system, and urged members to work together as a group toward a common goal.  Mayor Robin Gardner seconded Mr. Webb’s view.

The proposed budget advertises a tax rate of $1.09 on each $100 of assessed value.  However, the Council is expected to approve a rate of $1.07, an increase of four cents over the current rate.

City Manager Wyatt Shields announced public sessions on the budget Saturday, March 28, and Saturday, April 4, both at 10 a.m. at the Community Center.  Residents are encouraged to attend and express their concerns to council members and City staff. 

FY 2010 Budget Ordinance:
http://www.fallschurchva.gov/Content/Government/Council/Meetings/2009/March23/FY10BudgetOrdinance032309.pdf

Tax Rate Ordinance:
http://www.fallschurchva.gov/Content/Government/Council/Meetings/2009/March23/TaxRateOrdinance032309.pdf

City Installing 4 Red-Light Cameras Costing $350,000

Last night the Falls Church City Council voted to approve the installation of a red light camera system.  Chief of Police Harry Reitze advised the Council that if all goes smoothly the system will be operational by July 10.

The cameras were approved by a 6-1 vote.  In dissenting, Councilman Dan Maller stated he did not believe the system would generate sufficient revenue to justify its expense or substantially improve public safety.  He noted that one of the weaknesses of the new system is that it will not delay the opposing green light if a car running the light is in the intersection.  

Chief Reitze explained that the light cannot be delayed since it would throw off the synchronization of the lights just outside the City in Fairfax County.  However, City Manager Wyatt Shields advised the Council that he would consult with the city engineer to determine if the delay feature could be implemented, as he recalled the previous system was able to hold the light.

Red-light-running has been a long-standing problem in the City.  Vice Mayor Hal Lippman noted that the earlier system had detected over 19,000 violations in a single year.

Four cameras will be installed, presumably at the same intersections as in the past, three on Broad Street and one on South Washington Street. 

The contract for the cameras, which is not to exceed $350,000 annually, was awarded to American Traffic Solutions, Inc.

Lots of Ideas on GEORGE Bus – Will Any of Them Work?

Here’s a rundown of all the ideas we’ve seen the last few weeks on what to do about GEORGE, the City’s debt-ridden bus service:

First is from City Manager Wyatt Shields, who has to find a way to balance the budget: Dump GEORGE entirely and save $450,000 next year. End of story.

(But what happens to the buses themselves, which cost over $1 million in 2002? Couldn’t the City recoup some money by selling them? It turns out that the City signed the buses over to WMATA (the Metro authority) for “a nominal fee.” In return, Metro was to operate and maintain the buses for an hourly rate of $63, which since has risen to $99. If we kill GEORGE, does Metro keep the buses for free? See the COMMENT at bottom of page.)

The Falls Church News-Press said that Shields’ recommendation to kill George “may not be wise” -– at least if GEORGE were used “for its economic development potential, rather than as a private taxi cab for already overly-pampered commuting residents.”

City Council member Dan Maller wrote in the Falls Church Times:

Thank you for this forum.  I am determined to find a way to preserve the system so we can make a decisive transition to something that would work and be a better representation of our community values.  I believe that these 40-passenger diesel city buses are absolutely wrong for our needs, so once we get beyond the immediate crisis we need a medium and long-term plan that provides service using smaller vehicles powered by CNG, electricity, hydrogen, compressed air, horses, dogs, strapping Ukrainian lads, or whatever.

There appears to be a strong consensus that Falls Church cannot afford to operate the GEORGE system in the current fashion, and that the value added for residents is far less than the cost.  My opinion is that we should be able to come up with a plan that provides the bulk of the benefit at a fraction of the cost, or we have no business in the transit business. I am actively working to come up with the outline of a plan and I would welcome any feedback on this site or by email to dmaller@fallschurchva.gov. I would hope to have at least one brainstorming session (formal or informal) including GEORGE users prior to recommending anything formally.

The short-term options are to terminate the program entirely on June 30 or to find ways to reduce the subsidy to a number that the community would support (a tax increase or alternative program cuts).  My starting suggestion is a 1/2¢ property tax increase which would provide about $175,000, combined with a very serious and decisive look at the structure of the program.

The City’s Economic Development Authority held a special meeting March 23 to consider GEORGE. A formal statement should be issued in a couple of days, but the consensus at the meeting seemed to be that the City should preserve a smaller, cheaper GEORGE rather than discontinue it entirely. Even though the service is not cost-effective, it does help “brand” the City as a desirable place to live.

The Village Preservation and Improvement Society agrees with Maller that City Council should restructure GEORGE to reduce costs rather than scrap it entirely. Examples include partnering with the ART bus, reducing “platform hours” to shorter morning and evening rush hour times, and doubling the fare.

Mike Gardner, the Mayor’s husband, writing in “Blueweeds,” calls GEORGE a “vanity bus.” The City cannot afford it, “and any local politician who says it can is being incredibly irresponsible.”

On another blog, “Falls Church Insider,” EDA member Andy Rankin suggests:  Switch to “shuttle buses”; change the routes so they don’t duplicate Metrobus; and implement night and weekend service for access to entertainment and dining spots.

The Falls Church Chamber of Commerce issued a statement on its position, clarifying that it has no official position. But the “general consensus,” according to Executive Director Sally Cole, is that “while GEORGE is not working now, there must be some way to fix it so that it supports our businesses and the City’s economic development.”

Last (and least?), your obedient servant listed his own ideas in an earlier opinion column. Most are reflected above. The two most crucial are: Replace the big buses with smaller versions more appropriate for neighborhood streets. And then, actually run GEORGE on those neighborhood streets instead of largely duplicating Metrobus routes. I also recommended making GEORGE free to ride, noting that it’s probably not cost-effective to charge 50-cent fares. Now we’ve learned that the Metro Authority has been pocketing half the fare to cover the cost of collection. 

I’ll add another idea: Cut service WAY back. There may not be a compelling reason even to service West Falls Church Metro at this point. Ridership figures indicate most of the demand is for service to East Falls Church, where the parking lot fills up early. 

Page 1 Photo: Adam E. Moreira

Above Photo: Falls Church Times: George Southern

Links

GEORGE Service Options: http://fallschurchva.gov/Content/Docs/GeorgePresentationFY2010.pdf

Falls Church News-Press: http://www.fcnp.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4236:editorial-the-budget-a-fcs-future&catid=16:local-commentary&Itemid=78

Falls Church Times: http://fallschurchtimes.com/2009/03/06/opinion-how-to-save-george-the-wayward-bus/#comment-430

Blueweeds: http://blueweeds.typepad.com/blue_weeds/2009/03/the-hairy-george-issue.html

Falls Church Insider: http://www.fallschurchinsider.com/2009/03/george-okay-heres-what-i-think/

 

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